Department stores give EVs, hybrids free parking

Sept 07,2018

Shinsegae and Hyundai Department Stores are now offering two-hour free parking to customers who drive in with low-emission cars.

On Wednesday, two of Korea’s largest department stores signed an agreement with the Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office promising to encourage customers to use energy-conserving transportation. The air quality office is managed by the Ministry of Environment.

In line with the agreement, Shinsegae and Hyundai began offering free two-hour parking for low-emission car users across a total of eight department stores in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions from Wednesday.

Shinsegae’s participating stores are its branches in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, Incheon, Jukjeon-dong and Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi. All of Hyundai’s participating stores are located in Seoul - branches in Sinchon and Sindorim in western Seoul, Cheonho-dong in eastern Seoul and Gireum-dong in central Seoul.

Customers whose cars are categorized as low-emission vehicles Types 1, 2 or 3 may get free parking benefits if they show proof of ownership of such cars at the Point Center in Shinsegae and the Club Desk at Hyundai Department Store.

According to the Clean Air Conservation Act, low-emission vehicles are defined as zero-emission electric vehicles including electric, fuel cell and solar cars as well as cars that produce lower-than-usual pollution levels.

“The government will continue to pursue cooperative activities to improve air quality,“ said Kim Dong-ku, head of the air quality office. “We will increase benefits to encourage the public to use low-emission cars.”